TUTORIAL | REALISTIC TAPE

I always think that tape that is just added on top of a photo looks a bit unrealistic. With the help of a little dodging, burning and - if desired - smudging you can give your tape the little extra something. We'll do this in a non-destructive way, because a. well, non-destructive is always better and b. you don't want to smudge the tape directly.

Watch the video to see me do it while I am working on this layout. I have listed the steps below the video

Place the tape on top of the photo.

Create a new layer above the tape.

Select your tape by ctrl+clicking on the thumbnail of the tape layer in the layers palette. You will see the marching ants around the tape.

Make sure the new layer above the tape is active and fill it with 50% gray.

Change the blend mode to Overlay.

Select the photo by ctrl+clicking on the photo layer.

Make sure your gray layer is active, choose the dodge tool and dodge along the inside edge of the photo. Adjust the settings of the dodge tool to your liking, it depends on the colours and pattern of the tape how much of the effect shows. Start with a low setting and increase if needed.

With the selection still active, invert it.

Now choose the burn tool and burn along the outside edge of the photo. Adjust the settings of the burn tool to your liking, it depends on the colours and pattern of the tape how much of the effect shows.

Start with a low setting and increase if needed.

Now if you deselect the photo and can see the effect properly it might be just right or - as is often the case- a tiny bit too harsh at the edge between dodge and burn. If so choose the smudge tool in a rather small sized soft brush.

Make sure the gray layer is still active and change the blend mode to Normal and lightly smudge where the doged and burned areas meet. This softens the effect.

Change the blend mode back to Overlay again.

Make the tape layer active

Optional: Add a slight drop shadow with your preferred settings.


Try it out, it's easy and gives your tape the little extra oomph.